News 12 @ 6 Sunday May 4, 2008
BOSTON (AP) -- Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 11 rebounds and
Paul Pierce scored 22 points in Boston's 99-65 romp over Atlanta in
the decisive seventh game of their NBA playoff series. The Celtics
earn a second-round matchup with LeBron James and the Cleveland
Cavaliers. That best-of-seven series begins Tuesday night in the
Hub.

After missing a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the Game 6
loss that forced the series back to Boston, Rajon Rondo had 10 points and six assists. And Kendrick Perkins had 10 points and 10 rebounds before joining the rest of the starters on the bench for the formality of a fourth quarter.

The Celtics avoid one of the biggest postseason upsets of all
time with the victory. Boston went a league-best 66-and-16 during
the regular season. That's 29 games better than the young Hawks
team that earned the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)